City of Basketball Love

CoBL Staff (@hooplove215)
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Every day during the season on which there are games featuring the 10 Division I teams that CoBL features, we’ll have a Tipping Off running bright and early, letting you know everything you need to know about the match-ups.

As always, we’ll start with a wrap of the previous day’s action, followed by a look at the complete slate; as always, thanks to KenPom’s awesome site for his predictions--though keep in mind this early in the season, his predictions aren’t as reliable:

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Yesterday’s results

Penn State 62, Bucknell 58
--Quick Report

La Salle 81, Rowan 51
--Quick Report
--Giannini's return to Rowan nearly perfect in win

San Diego 62, Drexel 59
--Quick Report

William Paterson 72, Rosemont 68
--William Paterson shows up to play, beats Rosemont in CvC

Purdue 77, Lehigh 55
--Quick Report

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Today’s games

Lafayette Leopards (1-4) vs. Penn Quakers (4-1)
Where: Kirby Sports Center; Easton, Pa.
When: 2:00 PM
Watch it: Patriot League Network
KenPom Prediction: Lafayette, 76-74 (59%)

The Skinny: This game will be a shooter's paradise, with two programs who love to space the floor and utilize the 3-point arc often going head-to-head. Steve Donahue is well on his way to revitalizing Penn in his first year as head coach, and picking up a second road win before the calendar turns to December would be a nice achievement. Quaker sophomore Sam Jones (15.6 ppg) has constantly been in double figures this season, while senior big man Darien Nelson-Henry (16.4 ppg, 8.8 rpg) had the best game of his career the last time out against La Salle: 31 points and 14 rebounds. A Lafayette team that's had issues defending inside will need to figure out a way to slow down the 6-11, 270-pound center if they're going to stay with Penn this afternoon. The Leopards are being led by their own big man, sophomore forward Matt Klinewski (16.0 ppg, 4.8 rpg), followed by junior point guard Nick Lindner (15.2 ppg, 4.6 apg), a three-year starter and the 2015 Patriot League Tournament MVP.

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Temple Owls (1-3) vs. Delaware Blue Hens (2-1)
Where: Liacouras Center; Philadelphia, Pa.
When: 5:00 PM
Watch it: ESPN3
KenPom Prediction: Temple, 73-64 (84%)

The Skinny: Temple finally gets its home opener after a brutal four-game stretch to open the year that included three top-25 programs and one other high-major opponent; don't let the Owls' record fool you, this is a talented team that's still figuring a few things out. The Blue Hens are going up against one of their most challenging opponents on the schedule (Villanova still awaits), but this is a group that's in its second year together as a unit and is starting to really come together. Four UDel players average in double figures, led by senior forward Marvin King-Davis (14.3 ppg, 9.0 rpg) and sophomore guard Kory Holden (13.3 ppg, 6.3 apg). Temple is led by seniors Quenton DeCosey (15.3 ppg, 5.0 rpg) and Devin Coleman (12.3 ppg, 4.0 rpg), but this could be a big game for forward Obi Enechionyia (10.7 ppg, 2.0 rpg), who's getting back to full health after an ankle injury bothered him early.

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